Ralph McQuarrie: The Concept Artist Who Shaped Star Wars
In 1975, George Lucas secured funding for Star Wars by presenting paintings by Ralph McQuarrie to Fox executives. McQuarrie, a former Boeing technical illustrator and CBS News animator for the Apollo program, brought a draftsman's rigor to science fiction. His concept art drew on astronomical painting (Chesley Bonestell), golden age illustration (N.C. Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish), and the Maschinenmensch from Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927). McQuarrie designed Darth Vader's samurai-influenced armor and breathing mask—the latter solving a scripted space travel problem. His painting of C-3PO persuaded Anthony Daniels to accept the role. Lucas used McQuarrie's images as instructions for the crew, replicating compositions exactly. McQuarrie died on March 3, 2012. Lucasfilm still uses his unused 1970s sketches for new productions; Rian Johnson consulted them for The Last Jedi, and Star Wars Rebels functions as a moving McQuarrie retrospective. In 1985, he won an Oscar for Visual Effects on Cocoon. Lucas said McQuarrie's work propelled the original trilogy's cast and crew.
Key facts
- George Lucas used Ralph McQuarrie's paintings to secure funding from 20th Century Fox in 1975.
- McQuarrie worked as a technical illustrator for Boeing and animated Apollo coverage for CBS News.
- His designs drew on Chesley Bonestell, N.C. Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, and Fritz Lang's Metropolis.
- McQuarrie designed Darth Vader's armor and breathing mask; the mask solved a scripted space travel need.
- His painting of C-3PO convinced Anthony Daniels to accept the role.
- Lucas instructed crew to replicate McQuarrie's compositions exactly.
- McQuarrie died on March 3, 2012.
- Lucasfilm continues to use his unused concept sketches for new Star Wars productions.
- Rian Johnson consulted McQuarrie's paintings for The Last Jedi.
- Star Wars Rebels heavily draws from McQuarrie's unused designs.
- McQuarrie won an Oscar for Visual Effects on Cocoon in 1985.
- George Lucas stated McQuarrie's work propelled the original trilogy's cast and crew.
Entities
Artists
- Ralph McQuarrie
- George Lucas
- Chesley Bonestell
- N.C. Wyeth
- Maxfield Parrish
- Fritz Lang
- Anthony Daniels
- Rian Johnson
Institutions
- 20th Century Fox
- Boeing
- CBS News
- Lucasfilm
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Locations
- Billings
- Montana
- United States
- Los Angeles
- California